I should have stayed in bed!

[electricmanscott]

Just one of those days... Went to wire a hot tub today. Ran my romex about 75' through the partially finished basement, wired a couple of receptacles in the sunporch, flying along things are going great.

Of course it starts pouring while I'm inside so all my tools and stuff get soaked. Figure I'll finish up the inside work and hope the rain lets up so I can finish the tub. Rain was predicted for late afternoon and of course it's pouring at 9:30 am.

Pop my 2 pole 50 into the panel and prepare to land my wires. This is going great! Uhhh Hmmm, this is some really thin and flexible #6. What the???? it's #8! What the heck did I do?

Yup, I ran 8/3 romex all the while knowing I needed a 50 amp circuit. The kicker is the fact that from the disco to the tub will be PVC with #8 conductors yet the nm has to be #6. Oh you silly NEC!

Still pouring out and I'm totaly deflated so I call it a day. Head out to the truck and yippeeee! I left the windows open. I get to drive home on a soaking wet seat! :grin:

While driving home I get a call....Installed 6 recessed lights the other day. New circuit, one switch, AFCI breaker. Guess what the call was for???

Happy Friday!

 

[ultramegabob]

Your not alone, I have days like that also... go home, fire up the grill, have a beer, and forget about it until monday...

 

[SiddMartin]

Your not alone, I have days like that also... go home, fire up the grill, have a beer, and forget about it until monday...

the longer I am in this trade, the easier it is to take that great advice!

 

[infinity]

Maybe a standard of color coding the Romex jacket should be mandatory from every manufacturer. :wink:

 

[electricmanscott]

Maybe a standard of color coding the Romex jacket should be mandatory from every manufacturer. :wink:

I was smart enough not to use white, yellow or orange. :grin:

 

[LarryFine]

Your not alone, I have days like that also... go home, fire up the grill, have a beer, and forget about it until monday...

"Hey, wait! Today IS Monday!"

 

[480sparky]

I was smart enough not to use white, yellow or orange. :grin:

Don't feel bad. I once was sent out to trim a house and found #6 THHN had been run instead of RG6.

 

[LarryFine]

Maybe a standard of color coding the Romex jacket should be mandatory from every manufacturer. :wink:

Especially with the #6 and #8. The digits themselves are almost identical when pristine, and indistinguishable once marred.

It might be a good idea to tag one of them with tape when you buy them. I may even follow my own good advice one day.

 

[Dennis Alwon]

So Scott , let me open another can of worms... What are you going to do when you finish running the 6/3 w/ #10 ground and the tub specs call for a full size egc. I think I know the answer I am going to get. :grin:

This is the reason I pipe my tubs all the way back to the panel. PITA but.....

 

[LarryFine]

Don't feel bad. I once was sent out to trim a house and found #6 THHN had been run instead of RG6.

That was a nice upgrade. :grin:

 

[Pierre C Belarge]

Scott
I feel for you, but your story was so well presented, that I got a good laugh by the time I read about your wet seats.:grin:

 

[electricmanscott]

So Scott , let me open another can of worms... What are you going to do when you finish running the 6/3 w/ #10 ground and the tub specs call for a full size egc. I think I know the answer I am going to get. :grin:

..

I bet this isn't the answer you're expecting....


The tub is about ten years old and was just brought to the customers house from somewhere else so guess what?

There are no specs! :grin:

They don't think it even works so I guess it doesn't matter what I wire it with.

 

[electricmanscott]

Especially with the #6 and #8. The digits themselves are almost identical when pristine, and indistinguishable once marred.

It might be a good idea to tag one of them with tape when you buy them. I may even follow my own good advice one day.

I wish I had an excuse. I picked up a 125' roll of 8/3 in a package marked 8/3!

 

[ultramegabob]

somthing I noticed is that you made the comment that you will run #8 in conduit to the tub, you may want to look at the manufactures specs, all the hot tubs that I have hooked up specify #6 copper in the instructions. I have a feeling it is a way for them to back out of a warrenty if you dont install it to thier specs.

 

[electricalperson]

around here the boss tells us to put 50amp breaker on 8 awg romex.

 

[electricmanscott]

around here the boss tells us to put 50amp breaker on 8 awg romex.

Why don't you come finsh my job. :grin:

 

[ultramegabob]

somthing I noticed is that you made the comment that you will run #8 in conduit to the tub, you may want to look at the manufactures specs, all the hot tubs that I have hooked up specify #6 copper in the instructions. I have a feeling it is a way for them to back out of a warrenty if you dont install it to thier specs.

I found these electrical requirements online, I never installed this companies product, but the requirements are typical of what I have seen, pay special attention to what is says under the "Installing our backyard Spa" heading...

http://www.spadepot.com/spacyclopedia/wiring-hot-tub-spa.htm

 

[masterinbama]

I wish I had an excuse. I picked up a 125' roll of 8/3 in a package marked 8/3!

You just thought you got a deal on the wire didn't you?

 

[electricalperson]

i actually had a pretty good friday..installed a receptacle for a toilet seat and fixed peoples air handlers and compressors all day. control issues mostly:grin:

i had days like yours. problems after problems :grin:

 

[daleuger]

i actually had a pretty good friday..installed a receptacle for a toilet seat and fixed peoples air handlers and compressors all day. control issues mostly:grin:

i had days like yours. problems after problems :grin:

Receptacle for a toilet seat? Ummm...ok:-?